Is Aladdin Your Favorite Disney Movie? Prove It!
- by Jessica
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Amid controversy of the new live-action cast for Aladdin, we will look back and cherish elements of the Disney 1992 original movie. As an early New York Times review remarked, Aladdin's two protagonists are rather bland and fail to captivate the audience unlike other animated Disney stars. Instead, the classic Aladdin relies heavily on secondary characters like the Genie, Abu, and the flying carpet.
The 1992 soundtrack is an Oscar winning collaboration between Alan Menken, Tim Rice, and Howard Ashman. Paired with accompanying animation, the score keep children engaged as it dramatized the narrative, making good plot turns fantastic and bad ones disastrous. The composer and lyrical authors added subtle humorous elements, double-entendres that keep the movie kid-friendly, but also widen the appeal to audiences of all ages. Secondary characters are often relied on for this comedic effect because the soppy couple are too entangled in their romance. From the magnificence of Agrabah's palace to the secret desert cave, Disney's settings have rarely taken on such a whole new world.
A late addition to the collection "One Thousand and One Nights," the Aladdin lore actually finds its oldest roots in early 18th century China. Despite this background, Disney has adopted a consensus to portray Aladdin as a Middle Eastern story.
How well do you know Disney's 1992 Aladdin?
What is the first scene in the movie?
This scene begins with original music "Arabian Nights" to introduce viewers to the setting of Aladdin. The tale itself is brought up by an Arab merchant who is trying to sell an antique magic lamp. He launches into a tale about how the lamp used to contain a genie and drastically changed one man's life. So the story we hear of Aladdin is assumably a true one that transpired in that city or a nearby place. All of these feature render the story more tangible.
How does the merchant first describe Aladdin?
While the merchant is launching into his explanation about the tale he makes the protagonist someone the audience is intrigued by. Despite the circumstances Aladdin was born into, without parents and money, it is clear that he has a type of levelheaded morality. Although he steals daily, it is only to sustain himself. His theft does not come from a place of greed. The song "One Jump Ahead" clarifies this, however his monkey partner in crime Abu is a more tempted by material riches.
Who is the only one that may enter the cave of wonders?
This miraculous secret desert cave adheres to a prophesy: it will only allow one individual to retrieve the treasure within. In the beginning of the film Jafar tries to get a humble thief to enter the cave and get the magic lamp. However, he does not yet know of this prophecy and the thief is swallowed whole by the Arabian sands. Instead, Jafar comes away unsatisfied and determined to find the soul that can successfully penetrate the cave and bring out the lamp.
What is the name of Jafar's pet parrot?
One of Disney's best villainous sidekicks, this parrot is as evil and scheming as his master. Always complaining, his special quality as a parrot is to mimic other characters well and often sarcastically. He comes up with the treacherous project to get Jafar to marry Jasmine in an attempt to become Sultan. Unfortunately, he is a favourite of the rightful Sultan who enjoys stuffing dry crackers down his throat. He is nitwitted and lightens the character of Jafar who alone can be nightmarish.
Why does Jasmine run away?
Like other princesses that came out in the Disney Renaissance (films from '89 to '95 like The Little Mermaid), Jasmine has an idea of what she wants. She is strong willed and ready to risk her comfortable lifestyle for more independence. The princesses reclaim their agency in these passionate female roles, making them just as strong a lead as the male protagonists. However her father the Sultan is not ready to give her this agency but instead wants to force her into an arranged marriage.
How does Aladdin get Jasmine out of trouble in the marketplace?
After Jasmine has escaped from the palace she has no idea how to comport herself in the public sphere. Since she matured only behind the sheltered palace walls she seemingly does not know how currency or the economy works. Instead, she sees a hungry little boy and offers him an apple. When she is unable to pay the merchant for the produce she gave away he threatens to cut off her hand. However, Aladdin comes to the rescue and prevents this from happening.
In the marketplace, who does Jasmine pretend is the Sultan?
Aladdin gets Jasmine to play along pretending she is his crazy sister to save from the penalty of stealing. He pretends she's been lost and has no idea she is in the marketplace. But because Jasmine's first reaction to the accusation was to tell the vendor she knew the Sultan Aladdin has to improvise that she is so deranged she thinks an animal is the Sultan. She later approaches another market animal thinking he is a doctor to make the lie more believable.
What does Jafar charge Aladdin with to bring him into the castle?
Because Jasmine is with Aladdin when he is arrested she claims she can protect him and uses her political presence as the princess to threaten the guards. Once back in the castle Jasmine tries to reason with Jafar questioning why he arrested Aladdin. Jafar responds that though Aladdin may have been charged on a misunderstanding he has already been executed. This begins the animosity between Jasmine and Jafar that lasts until the film's climax. Now Jafar uses Aladdin as a disposable thief to send into the cave.
What is the warning Aladdin receives at the mouth of the cave?
Since Aladdin is the rightful "diamond in the rough" who was prophesied, the disguised Jafar imagines he practically has the lamp already. However, there is one more restriction the sands place on Aladdin otherwise he won't be allowed to resurface from the depths of the cave. Aladdin heeds this constraint, but Aladdin is never without his wingman Abu. Instead Abu's gets the duo into trouble because he cannot resist tempation. Abu ultimately redeems himself by stealing back the magic lamp from Jafar.
How many years has the Genie been dormant in the lamp?
The cave of wonders has prevented all unworthy individuals from entering to claim the magic lamp. Consequently, Genie has been stuck waiting in his "itty bitty living space" for someone to come along and make wishes. This highlights how although he is all-powerful his power is surrendered to a master. Genie's impatience is apparent when Aladdin does not understand the function of the lamp. Genie launches into a fantastic explanation, jumping from one character monologue to the next at such a jolting speed as to freak out Abu.
How does Aladdin get himself sprung from the cave?
Genie's elation of being rediscovered is evident after the "Friend Like Me" display. He makes a performance of his unbounded powers and demonstrates some of the material things he can offer to a prospective master. Moreover, after being trapped in his lamp Genie is ready to begin fulfilling his purpose. Being a savvy street urchin, Aladdin understands how to capitalize on an opportunity like this. When the genie finally realizes what happened, he's none too happy with Aladdin, who is eager to make his first wish.
What is the next evil plan Jafar hatches after he fails to get the lamp a second time?
After Jafar finds himself in the middle of the desert without the magic lamp a second time he decides to change tactics. He thinks Aladdin is stuck in the cave of wonders and so has lost all hope of obtaining the lamp. Instead, he and Iago choose to pursue a plan B. Like the previous endeavor, this project will lead to him being Sultan. Ultimately Jafar's most important character goal- to be second to no one- is also his Achilles' heel.
What is Aladdin's first wish?
Once out of the cave Aladdin focuses on getting back to Agrabah and meeting Jasmine again. He and the Genie strategize the best way to make him an eligible suitor, ideally one she will listen to and accept. Aladdin is still self-conscious of his poverty and extremely embarrassed that he was addressing the princess without even knowing it. Ready to make amends he wants to go to the castle, but he must disguise himself so Jafar will not realize he's escaped.
What does Genie turn Abu into?
While constructing Aladdin's persona as prince, Genie realizes he'll need a "mode of transportation". This is where he turns to Abu because while the wiry monkey might be a good thieving companion in the marketplace Aladdin 2.0 will need something more impressive to make his entrance into town. Genie makes the parade into town one of the unforgettable scenes from this movie because he integrates all types of people. In the song "Prince Ali" Genie is appearing everywhere from a young boy to a brothel madame.
What is Jasmine's reaction to Aladdin's parade?
Oddly, the new incarnation of prince Ali is the exact opposite of what Jasmine found attractive in the street-rat Aladdin. Unlike him she is used to all the pomp and flair of being royalty but intrigued by the adventurous freedom he offered her in the marketplace. However he misunderstands this and strives to achieve her class status by entering Agrabah through a grand parade. Eventually he understands that the truth is the best way forward but doesn't decide to tell her until it's too late.
What does the Sultan like to do in his spare time?
Jasmine's father represents a trope of the incompetent ruler whose regime is being run by his highly manipulative vizier, Jafar. Though Jafar holds a dark magic power over the Sultan in the form of his snake-like brass stick, the ruler is not the most serious and stern Sultan to begin with. Instead, he is well-intentioned but mostly cares for his daughter's well-being. He is not a bad character, but careless in choosing advisors. Without him Jafar wouldn't have come so close to destroying the city.
How does the Genie want Aladdin to approach Jasmine?
The Genie provides some insightful wisdom to Aladdin after he sees Jasmine's reaction to the parade. Though the exuberant performance won over the Sultan, Jasmine is frustrated by the concept of not being able to freely choose her future husband. In a hilarious scene with Aladdin trying to woo Jasmine from her balcony, Genie is buzzing around as a little bee, offering advice on how to win her heart. Eventually Jasmine recognizes some of Aladdin's actions and asks him how Abu is, a character she knew from the marketplace.
What is a site Jasmine and Aladdin see on their magic carpet ride?
Aladdin wins Jasmine over a second time by getting her to go on a carpet ride with him. He appeals to her sense of wonder and adventure and takes her to other countries and continents. During this trip he lies to her when she confronts him about being that boy from the marketplace. He plays it cool, explaining that he sometimes dresses as a peasant to go out in public but that he is foremost a prince. She believes him.
What is Aladdin's second wish?
After the romantic carpet ride, Aladdin and his friends are ambushed by Jafar's guards. Since Jafar has not yet uncovered Aladdin's identity he just tries to get rid of the "prince". Luckily Aladdin keeps the magic lamp on him at all times so Genie is able to help him even though Aladdin does not not explicitly wish it. Soon thereafter Jafar discovers Aladdin's true identity and that he is the holder of the magic lamp. He hides away and schemes to steal it with Iago.
What is Jafar's first wish?
Aladdin tells Genie he has to break his promise about the final wish, they get in a fight and Aladdin leaves the lamp in his quarters. Here it is vulnerable for once and Iago steals it for his master Jafar. Immediately Genie regrets his falling out with Aladdin but can do nothing except obey Jafar's commands regardless of how despicable they are. First, Jafar goes for what he has been pining for the entire movie up till now, then his demands become more reckless.
What is Jafar's second wish?
After becoming Sultan of Agrabah, Jafar realizes he still cannot get people to bend to his will. Their resilience can defy him as Sultan so that despite how he threatens his enemies they can still garner power to resist. He wants to hold greater powers so he doesn't have to keep on making wishes to control people. Since Jafar has already dabbled black magic he wants to hold a more recognizable position in that world. This is where the power goes to his head and he begins to make dangerous wishes.
What animal does Jafar turn into?
Prompted by an offhand comment while fighting with Aladdin, the sorcerer Jafar transforms himself into a formidable poisonous animal. Disney has an impressive array of terrifying villains but power-hungry Jafar has to be near the top of the list. He battles Aladdin as a massive version of this animal- the vast reach and sharp teeth only highlight further Aladdin's unfortunate word choice. With colours of red and black swirling around him, this epic last scene makes you wonder whether Aladdin could really prevail.
What is the question Aladdin always asks Jasmine?
With this thrice recurring question Aladdin or "prince Ali" gave himself away as the boy in the marketplace. At first he asked it in the dire situation to escape from Jafar's guards from his high up hideout. Then he asked it when trying to encourage Jasmine to take out the magic carpet with him. Finally he states it when he encourages Jafar to make a final wish: to become a genie. The first two instances are slightly rhetorical as Aladdin always has a charming smile like he knows the answer.
What is Aladdin's last wish?
Once Jafar is defeated Aladdin sees why this wish is so important. Not only does it improve Genie's existence but it also ensures his powers won't be taken advantage of by evil geniuses. This wish facilitates the feel good ending Disney usually provides, with the bad guy banished and justice reinstated. Finally, Aladdin has learnt a valuable lesson from parading around as a prince. He realizes you should claim who you are instead of trying to pretend to be someone you're not.
How does the Sultan make it possible for Jasmine and Aladdin to be together?
Jasmine's father approves of her match with Aladdin, especially because that means she has finally chosen a suitor. So, the storyline ends full circle from the beginning. In just three days the city has been overtaken by a maniac advisor, a pretend prince, and then replaced back in the hands of the Sultan. After all the drama that transpired, the Sultan is ready to loosen one regulation. He witnessed firsthand Aladdin's bravery and commitment to saving Jasmine and Agrabah from the evil rule of Jafar.